Gaines Mill Dam dam
Gaines Mill Dam
Gaines Mill Dam, located in Hanover, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation on Bloody Run. Designed by Hurt and Proffitt, Inc., this dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 360 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Despite its recreational purpose, the dam has been assessed to be in poor condition with an undetermined hazard potential, raising concerns for its safety and the surrounding community.
With the state regulatory agency, Department of Conservation and Recreation, overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement, Gaines Mill Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The last inspection in July 2020 highlighted the dam's poor condition, prompting a need for risk assessment and management measures to ensure the safety of the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Gaines Mill becomes increasingly critical.
As discussions around dam safety and climate resilience evolve, the future of Gaines Mill Dam hangs in the balance. With its outdated emergency action plan and a history of poor maintenance, stakeholders must prioritize risk assessment and management to protect both the dam and the community it serves. By addressing the current condition and implementing necessary upgrades, Gaines Mill Dam can continue to provide recreational opportunities while mitigating potential hazards posed by climate change and aging infrastructure.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Gaines Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Totopotomoy Creek Near Studley | 2 cfs | → |
| Pamunkey River Near Hanover | 86 cfs | → |
| James River Near Richmond | 1,230 cfs | → |
| James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond | 137 cfs | → |
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 21 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gaines Mill Dam.
Track Gaines Mill Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Gaines Mill Dam
Where does the data for Gaines Mill Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Undetermined hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Gaines Mill Dam.